Audi equips the Motorsport Centre of Excellence in Neuburg with high-speed doors from EFAFLEX.
Here, where the heart of Audi Motorsports beats, perfection, ambition and a passion for outstanding technology come together. The new Motorsport Centre of Excellence is the result of two years of construction work on the Audi Driving Experience Centre site in Neuburg an der Donau. All of the racing car manufacturer's building technology fits with the company philosophy. As do the high speed doors from EFAFLEX.
Audi is a premium manufacturer, which is why we look exclusively for premium manufacturers to supply our operating equipment. In the doors sector, no one is better than EFAFLEX," explains Walter Pregernigg, project manager at Audi. "Alongside the outstanding quality of the doors, the handling and maintenance is trouble-free. For us, therefore, there is no other door manufacturer." A total of 57 high-speed doors are installed at the complex, which consists of nine buildings. From goods receipt through production to the exit onto the test track, the doors close the halls from the outside, but they also provide protection, and sometimes also separation, for example in manufacturing areas. "Many of the doors are controlled via a card reader because of the secrecy procedures," explains Walter Pregernigg. Audi and EFAFLEX's engineers developed the door control systems in accordance with to the company's specifications. "We worked together and defined the results collectively," says the project manager. "Most of the doors use a special control system which Efaflex and Audi developed specifically for the vehicle manufacturer. The doors are initially equipped with basic control, depending on the function and area of application; they can be upgraded with any type of controls at any time.
The externally mounted doors are highly insulated. EFAFLEX's new generation of thermally insulating spiral doors has already proven itself at the Audi factory in Ingolstadt, as well as at all the Audi sites around the world for highly frequented thoroughfares. With door blade speeds of up to 4.0 m/s, and depending on the door type, extremely high thermal insulation in accordance with DIN EN 13241-1 of less than 2.0 W (m²K), the doors keep the temperature in the halls largely constant, particularly during heating periods. Depending on the thermal insulation requirements, lath thicknesses can be varied between 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm profiles; while the lath height is a uniform 225 mm, benefiting the aesthetic appearance of the external facade. Functionally, the new generation EFA-SST® fulfils the highest expectations: Alongside the outstanding thermal insulation values, for example, they also demonstrate a better than average wind resistance of Class 4 in accordance with DIN EN 12424.
The range of finish colour options is almost without limit. For the Motorsport Centre of Excellence, the door blades were selected in black, blendingsympathetically into the facade, which were designed to reflect motorsport. Even the sound insulation values meet the strict regulations. "We had to comply with the strictest noise emission requirements in order to protect our employees as we have a NATO airfield nearby."
The new building sees the Audi Sport Centre relocate from their current home Ingolstadt to Neuburg, with all motorsports activities brought together under one roof here, whereengineers and mechanics develop and build the Audi motorsports vehicles. From here they organise all race entries worldwide and use the track for the first test drives ofall new sports prototypes. The Centre of Excellence, built like a full automotive factory, offers around 300 work stations in state-of-the-art offices, with production and engine manufacturing, carbon-fibre reinforced plastic production, quality assurance and engine test benches.On the ground floor of the Centre of Excellence there is access to the test track. Here, the race cars leave the building to head towards the handling course. "These doors have to be particularly wide because the vehicles have a limited turning circle," Walter Pregernigg describes the features of this location.
"They need more space when coming into and out of the pit lane." Because of the secrecy procedures, these doors are programmed to stay open for the shortest possible time and are fitted with special controls, so that no one can gain unauthorised access. If a door stays open for a moment too long it is immediately indicated with a warning tone. Walter Pregernigg opens a door. "Thanks to the spiral door technology, the operating noise cannot be heard despite the speed and size. The doors are as quiet as an Audi car door"
